"Violence against women is a serious and escalating evil in our society. It is both a part of the subordination of women and consequence of that inequality."

Nelson Mandela, 1996

Candice is a 40-year-old farm worker who lives and works in Villiersdorp. She experienced habitual physical abuse at the hands of her husband when he was drunk. One night she called the Villiersdorp police to say that her husband was threatening her with an axe: "Hy wil my kap met 'n byl". The police replied: "Maar jy's nog nie gekap nie!" ("He hasn't hit you yet."). Candice asked if they would only come if she was already dead.

Violence against women on farms has always been historically high, but has today reached pandemic proportions. This is exacerbated by the continued high levels of alcohol abuse, a legacy of the historical 'tot' system. Findings from a WFP survey of violence against women on farms found that more than 1 in 4 farmwomen (28%) have experienced violence at the hands of a partner. As Candice's story demonstrates, the treatment that women receive from police when reporting cases of domestic violence and rape often violates our rights and the Batho Pele principles. Many women experience secondary trauma as a result of the conduct of police officers.

Women on Farms Project capacitates women farm workers to know and claim their rights, and break the silence surrounding violence against women. We invite you to mark 16 Days of Activism with 300 farmwomen at a provincial Event and March.